The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-07
washington letter
From our regular correspondent.
MrArr,r,r1,tnn,. Ii. ~. 1

OF the Fidelity National Bank of Gin
cinnati, has acted with u promptness
and vigor becoming the dignity and
responsibility of the Government, and
the catastrophe is not without its les
sons and uses, as it shows the unques-
toned superiority of our National
banking system over all others in the
world, for ours is being rapidly recog-
nized as the model for most civilized
nations. When, for instance, this
bank suspended, what man in the
United States stopped for a moment
to examine whether or not he had one
OF its bills? Realizing the fact that if
all the banks of the country were to
break in day, the Government would
be fully responsible as long as a Unit
ed States bond is good for its face
value, and most of them are worth a
great deal more.
The changes in the different De-
partments incient to the beginning
OF the new fiscal year were not numer-
Gus or important. Twenty Treasury
clerks were dismissed, also seven in
the Quarter Master Generals Office
and forty employed in the Govern
ment Printing Office, most of the dis
charges being made on account of the
appropriation bill failing to provide
for continuance of the incumbents.
The order consolidating revenue dis
tricts went into effect at the same
time and also the 20 per cent reduc-
ton in salaries OF Assistant District
Attorneys; there were few minor
clerical changes, in nearly all the De-
partments.
Under the benefcent methods OF
our honest and upright Democratic
Administration the reduction of the
public debt continues steadily, the
amount for the month of June being
about $15,000,0OO, which is n pretty
good showing
During the last fiscal year the Pen
sion Office issued III $40 certificates,
which is said to be the best showing
ever made by the bureau. 1t is also
said that there is not a case in the
Pension Office that has not been ex-
amined in that time and the proper
action taken to prepare it for final
settlement, a record that is exceeding
| ly gratifying to the officials of that
bureau.
If dynamite bomb had exploded
in the corridors of the Patent Office
the other day, there could not have
been much greater cOmmotion among
the army of Republican clerks than
when it was made public, that, after
patient investigation, the accounts
OF Lev; Bacon, a protege Of lack
Chambers, who died few day since,
after having been many years finan-
cial clerk OF the Patent Ofice-dying
in the position-were short over 1888,
600. Who can blame these Republi-
can clerks for holding eulogistic meet
ings over the dead defaulter, for they
knew he held their due bills for thou
sand Of dollors unlawfully advanced
to them out of the public funds?
Many of the clerks will not have any
salary in three months, as Secretary
, Lamar will deduct therefrom their
dues. The boEdsmen will have to pay
, the full amount for which they are
: responsible, $4,000, yet, it is thought
3 there will be a considerable shortage
after the clerks are made to refund, al
most of the sum is in paper on Bacon's
outside friends. 1t appears that his
dCCOuHIS lldNG Dc6H CIOOkcu SlSll
years. The Democra can afford tC
raise great deal of such unsavory
"Bacon ont of Office" Turn The
" rascals out" In the words of the no
BILE lamented Hendricks "Open thu
books" Mr. John L. Norris, of Thu
l city, one of Bacon's bondsmen, nov
expresses his emphatic conviction, tC
use the language of the great and hon
= ored Tilden, that "reform is necessa
d ry," and says he believes that the &C
Il counts of other discussing officers O
the Government, will, if fully investi
gated, be found in as bad a condition
as those of the eteesmed Republican
i Bacon.
e A statement prepared by the Treas
ury Department shows that in th,
month of June, there was an increase
of $2,664 $40, in the circulation and
+ decrease of SO, 152,931 of the cash il
6 the Treasury. The principal increase
in circulation was in in silver certifi
o Gates and United States notes AM
the principal decrease in the Treas
ury cash was in gold and silver certifi
d Gates, United States notes and Nation
e al Bank notes.